Easy Vegetable Curry with Coconut Milk (Sayur Lodeh)

Vegetable curry in coconut milk is a popular dish in Indonesia (Sayur Lodeh), Malaysia and Singapore (Sayur Lemak). This easy coconut curry recipe is loaded with veggies and packed with flavor. Turmeric gives it a beautiful shade of yellow.

Whenever I see leftover vegetables in my fridge, I always think of making a vegetable curry with coconut milk. I have tasted numerous vegetable curries in restaurants over the years, but I always go back to this curry recipe that I learned from an Indonesian girl who used to live with my family when we lived in Hong Kong many years ago.

Her name was Utari. She was from a small village near Surabaya, Indonesia. She was a quiet, shy young girl who dreamed of having her own restaurant in her hometown someday.  She loved K-pop and K-drama even back in those times.

I don’t think I could have enjoyed Hong Kong as much as I did if she was not there for me. She loved Korean food and quickly learned to make kimchi, Korean soups and stews, and other dishes from me. In return, I learned how to make Indonesian curries, satay, and nasi goreng from her. This dish, vegetables in coconut milk called Sayur Lodeh, was perhaps my favorite. It’s one of the top Southeast Asian recipes that I adore.

I was told that Sayur Lodeh was a breakfast food in Indonesia. But, in my house, it was served as a weeknight dinner with grilled chicken satay and pineapple salad. When my sister came to visit me from Korea, Utari served this meal. My sister loved this Sayur Lodeh so much, she requested the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. This Indonesian vegetable curry is also known as Sayur Lemak in Malaysia and Singapore.

My family was sad to leave Utari behind when we left Hong Kong. I don’t think I thanked her enough for her service to my family. I still think of her from time to time and wish her the best wherever she is.

Recipe FAQs

Is this dish spicy?

Not really. You can adjust the amount of red chili depending on your heat tolerance. Typically, red bird eye chilies are for a spicier version. I recommend using red finger chilies for a milder option. You can even omit the chili to make the dish suitable for young children.

Is Sayur Lodeh vegetarian?

Unfortunately, it’s not. Although the name vegetables in coconut milk might make you think as vegetarian, it’s not vegetarian. Many Indonesian and Malay vegetable recipes uses dried shrimp (or shrimp paste) to bring flavor to the dish. Therefore, Sayur Lodeh or Sayur Lemak is not compatible with a strict vegetarian diet.

What can I substitute for coconut milk?

Coconut milk is the main ingredient in this recipe. It contributes to the creaminess of the dish. As a substitute, you can opt for almond milk or cashew milk but it will alter the taste. It might taste okay, but it won’t be Sayur Lodeh.

What vegetable go in curry?

Choose a variety of at least 3-4 different vegetables from the list below.

• snake beans (long bean) – or use green beans
• Thai eggplant – or other Asian eggplant
• green cabbage
• chayote
• carrot
• tomato
• pumpkin
• bamboo shoot
• bean curd
• bell pepper

Recipe Tip

This is a very simple recipe and does not require any specific culinary skill. However, maintaining a good balance of the flavor and the creaminess of the coconut milk is important. Too much coconut milk will make this curry overwhelmingly rich and will distract from the flavor of vegetables.

How to make Vegetable Curry with Coconut Milk

Step 1. Prepare vegetables.

Peel and slice chayote and dice other vegetables into bite size pieces.

How to prepare chayote: Chayote is somewhat slimy when you peel off the skin. To remove the sliminess, rub the chayote slices with 1 teaspoon of salt for 30 seconds and rinse with water. That will soften the texture and make them less slimy.

Step 2. Make spice paste (Lodeh paste)

Combine diced red chilies, shallot, garlic, dried shrimp in a small personal blender and add a few tablespoons of water to help the blade run. Process until a smooth paste forms. You can also go the traditional route by using a mortar and pestle to make the spice paste. Just pound the ingredients until it forms a paste.

Step 3. Fry the spice paste.

Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the spice paste and cook for 4-7 minutes until it loses some of its water content.

Step 4. Add vegetable, coconut milk and spice

Add the coconut milk, water, vegetables, ginger, and turmeric. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender. Season with fish sauce to your liking.

Stir this beautiful curry stew occasionally. Do not let it come to a full boil–you don’t want the coconut milk to curdle.

Serve vegetable curry hot with white rice on the side. Enjoy it as a savory breakfast or simple lunch.

Reheating Vegetable Curry

Keep leftover sayur lodeh in a refrigerator for up to 1 week. This vegetable curry reheats well in a microwave or you can use stove top until it gets hot.

More Curry Recipes

If you love curry, here are some of my favorite that I recommend you to try. You won’t be disappointed.

• Thai Red Curry Chicken
• Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Ca Ri Ga)
• Cape Malay Chicken Curry
• Easy Beef Massaman Curry
• Easy Ground Beef Curry Recipe (Beef Keema Curry)